Bible in 90 Wrap Up

This week we finished up our Bible in 90 Day Challenge.   This was my second trip through the 90 Day Challenge, but it was my first time mentoring a group.

I started off with 16 in my group and ended up with 7 of us (including myself) completing the challenge.  Several of the ladies in the group had some major things happen during this last 90 days.  I’m so proud of how hard they worked to finish their commitment despite the struggles.

If you’ve never read through the Bible I highly recommend that you sign up for the next 90 day challenge!  I’ll be posting more about that soon!

Bible in 90–Week 7 Check In

This week marks our halfway journey through the Bible!   It’s amazing how quickly this first half of the journey has flown by.   There have been days that I was dreadfully behind, and days when I’ve been meagerly ahead.  As I start week 7 of the journey, I’m right on track, thank God!

I have to admit, I’m really glad to be finished with a lot of the early Old Testament!  I’m really looking forward to Proverbs as it’s my favorite book of the Old Testament, and once I make it by Ecclesiastes it’ll be smooth sailing! 

I’ll be out of town early Thursday through late Saturday this week.  My goal is to get ahead Monday – Wednesday so that I’m not behind come Sunday!   What goals do you have for the week?  

Remember, keep your eyes on the prize!  Keep pressing towards the mark!  You CAN do this!!

Bible in 90 Week 2 Check In

It’s hard to believe we are already into week #2 of the Bible in 90 challenge!  My goodness where does the time go?

I’m pretty odd in the things that I pick up on as I read straight through, instead of stopping to study.  For example, I find it really intriguing that these dudes of the old testament could, um well…YOU KNOW…without seeing the face of the female and not realize that geez, this is the wrong gal.   Things that make you go, hmmm…

Anyway, I have a great group of ladies that I’m mentoring.  I’m very pleased with everyone’s progress and willingness to lift one another up in prayer.  Trust me, we’ve had some major things going on within our group this last week and it’s so good to know that ladies we’ve never met are standing with us!

Please visit the Week 2 Check In at Moms Tool Box.

Bible in 90–Week 1

Woohoo!   The summer session of Bible in 90 is on!  Today is Day #1 and we’re well on our way.   I’m so excited to be mentoring 15 ladies this go around!

Check in day is always on Monday.  Even thought it’s the first day, be sure to check in today in your designated group.   Click to go to this week’s check in post. Once there, click on your group number or letter and leave a comment for others in your group to read. Also, comment back to the others in your group, pick a few people and pray for them.

You may also be interested in seeing what others are blogging about.   You can go to the link up site here.

Bible in 90 Sign Up Begins Today!

Have you ever wanted to read the Bible from cover to cover but just haven’t gotten around to it?  Or maybe you’re feeling the nudge to spend more time in the Word and less time doing “stuff”?   Perhaps you’re looking to fast some “things” and need to replace it with something else?  Regardless of your reasons for wanting to read more of the Bible (or excuses for not), the Bible in 90 Days Challenge is an awesome tool and accountability venue.  Reading begins July 11, 2011 and runs through October 9, 2011.

I can tell you from my own past experience, just making the commitment and FOLLOWING THROUGH is a big step.  I can also tell you that the benefits reaped are amazing!  God is cool like that!

You don’t NEED to purchase anything.  But if you want to be counted and assigned to a accountability group, you do NEED to sign up.   Registration begins today, sign up here.

I’ll be a mentor this go around, so if you’d like to be in my group, just enter that information in the last question where it asks if there is any other information you would like to share.   (In case you don’t know, my full name is Joesette Huffman…grins.)

Bible in 90 Challenge

 

The next Bible in 90 Challenge will begin July 11.   I HIGHLY recommend that you make the commitment and join up.  The time commitment is big, but the rewards are great!

I’ll be mentoring a group this go around!   I’m really excited about the opportunity to see people’s lives changed as they set aside time to spend in the Word!

Bible in 90–It Is Finished

When I said I was doing the Bible in 90 challenge someone asked me “how are you going to digest all of that at once”…and I responded “I’m not” and I didn’t!  But that’s not a bad thing!

For me, signing up for the challenge wasn’t about gleaning something from every scripture (although there was a lot of that too), but it was more about a commitment to spend a certain amount of time in the Word, out of obedience.   Because it’s really easy to let that slip on the never ending things to do list.

During the last 90 days, God has revealed some areas that needed work (I’m not perfect, who knew?).  I had to cut out time spent on other things like computer time, and eating…yes eating.   Instead of obliviously snacking away the late evening hours I spent that time feasting on the Word.   I lost 25 pounds!! 

I don’t think it was coincidence that during this 90 days, our Pastor called the church to a 50 day “fluid fast for families”.   So I’ve been drinking only water for the last 30ish days (eating is normal, just no fluids other than water).  Again, it’s about the obedience.

So the challenge is over, and I’m so glad I did it.   Having the accountability group was a big help.  It would have been nice to have people I know reading along with me…maybe next time!

Speaking of next time, the next Blogging Through the Bible in 90 Days/ Bible in 90 Days session will begin on Monday, July 11. As it gets closer, I will post information on signing up to read.   I HIGHLY recommend it.

In the meantime, be sure to visit the Celebration Link Up and congratulate those who finished the challenge!

Bible in 90–Almost There

It’s hard to believe that this 90 day challenge is almost at an end.  It really has gone quickly, and been a great opportunity.

I have to admit, I’ve enjoyed the New Testament much more than the Old Testament.  But after reading about the New Testament church all at once (instead of snippets) I realize how much work there is to do both individually and corporately!

Be sure to come back by on Saturday for my end of the challenge wrap up, and for info on the next Bible in 90 Challenge!

Bible in 90–Weekly Wrap Up

Even though I haven’t written a blog post each week, I am on track with the reading program.   We just finished up the Old Testament.  Let me say, those prophets of old had some HARD words to deliver.

I’m excited about being in the New Testament now.   The reading has a better flow to it.   It’s also great to be reading through the four gospels this close to the Easter season, giving a refresher of what Jesus went through for each of us, all because of His great love!

Bible in 90 Wrap Up

Last week was just plain crazy busy, so I didn’t get a chance to do a wrap up post.  I did keep up with my reading though.  It’s hard to believe we’re over halfway through our reading!  I’ve got a bit of free time this morning, as both kids are under the weather and we’re home from church.  So I’m doing my wrap up a day early.

Part of our reading this week included my favorite book of the Bible, Proverbs.   No matter how many times you read through Proverbs, there is always another nugget of wisdom and truth to apply in our daily walk.   Once again, as I read Proverbs 31 I’m challenged to reevaluate my walk as a Godly woman.  There is  work to be done, but I’m making progress and moving ahead; often  one tiny step at a time.

Bible in 90–Week 5 Review

Well, I’m glad to announce that I’m still on schedule!  I guess that’s not much of a week in review, eh?

To be honest, my reading time was interrupted a lot this past week.  A lot of those interruptions were mental, meaning my mind wandered a lot.  So, yeah, like I said…I’m up to date, but I didn’t focus like I should have this last week.   

Basically, my only reason for this post is to let you know that I did my reading.  Go me…(she says with a tone).  Hopefully next week I’ll have some deep, insightful nugget of truth to share with you. 

Bible in 90 Week 4 Review

Truthfully, this week was more of a struggle.  No particular reason why, it just seemed to not be registering with me.  I kept up on the daily reading, but some days I felt like I retained very little.

What I did notice those was interesting.  In reading through I Kings and II Kings, I noticed that whenever a Godly king raised up, and then turned on God it always pointed out that “King ____ tore not down the high places, and began to worship other Gods”.  

This made me stop and ponder why some people seem to struggle with the same sin over and over.   They didn’t tear down that “high place” that was given to that thing, be it addictions, sexual immorality, gossiping or any other area.

How do you tear down such a high place?  First admit it exists.  Then renounce the sin, and consecrate that area of your life to God, by replacing it with a Godly thing.  For example, when the craving for a cigarette or drink hit, read your Bible, or pray or sing praise to God for your deliverance.  

So now that the area of high places is on my radar screen, I need to take a good look and see what areas I’ve left open.

How about you?

Bible in 90–Week 3

I’m really happy with how much I’m getting out of reading the Bible this rapidly.  Granted, I glazed over some in Numbers and Deuteronomy, but even then there were nuggets that I’d never seen before.

This week we covered Joshua, Judges, Ruth and 1 Samuel.   There was lots to chew on through these books but Samson got my attention the most. 

If you recall, God spoke that Samson would be a Nazarite from birth.  (Judges 13:7) His mother was instructed not to eat anything that cometh from the vine; drink wine or strong drink, not to eat anything unclean.  (Judges 13:14) 

Once Samson was grown he decided he wanted to marry a Philistine, against his parents wishes.  (Judges 14:1-3) He was already starting to show some signs of disobedience, but it was only a little.    Then in verse 9, he took honey out of the dead lions carcass and ate it, but didn’t tell his parents about it.  (Now, keeping a secret or two.)  The problem there is that he was a Nazarite, and anything dead was unclean he wasn’t to touch it…but to EAT it??  Eww!  

(Judges 16:1) shows us that he then went in to a harlot.  Verse 4, he fell in “love” with Delilah.   (Judges 16:16) He gave in to the “daily pressure” and told his secret and paid the price with his eyes and finally his life.

But look at Judges 16:20…And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself.  And he knew not that the Lord was departed from him.

Those “little” sins, those “little” disobediences that seemed to go unnoticed gave him a prideful (ok, downright cocky) attitude.   But they also started to slowly separate him from God.  By the time his hair was cut and the Philistines were on him, he wasn’t even able to discern that God’s power had left him.

Often, we are like Sampson.  A little disobedience here, a small “pet” sin there.  Maybe it’s a haughty attitude, because after all we are “God’s man/woman of power for the hour”.  Then the daily pressure of something BIG, something IMPORTANT, something that can cost your very life comes along and you give in because  each of those little areas have slowly separated you from God.  You are no longer tuned in to hear that still small voice.

Suddenly you’re out there alone, floundering in the aftermath.  You cry out “God where are you?  Why did YOU let this happen?”   If you’re fortunate enough to have physically survived, and spiritually smart enough, you look around and see God….way back there, where YOU LEFT HIM.

(Judges 16:28) And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once…..”

Kick your Delilah to the curb today!  The cost is too great! 

Bible in 90–Week 2

First of all, let me just say that for the majority of Leviticus I was thinking “eeeew…yuck…gross!!!” 

Then when I hit Numbers and the numbering of the tribes of Israel, I couldn’t help but think that these were some intense reproducing folks!  My goodness!!  But, they didn’t have as many leisure activities and hobbies as we do, so I guess they had to find something to do!

However, as I read about their disobedience to God in so many areas I started to have thoughts like “How dumb can people be?” or “How could they doubt God after all He had already done?”  etc. etc.

Then that still quite voice reminded me of the times He’s given me a small directions “Don’t eat that.”  “Don’t go there.”   “Don’t say that.”    Of course, in some instances I “ate that”, “went there” and “said that”.   Just like those dumb Israelites.   The difference?  We have the Bible to read and the Holy Spirit to guide us, they didn’t at that time.  So really, who’s the dummy now?

The point?  Well, I guess it’s just that we need mercy and grace just as much as they did…maybe sometimes more!  So maybe, just maybe we need to extend a little mercy and grace to the dummies in our lives, and hope they do the same to us!

Bible in 90–Week 1

Initially, I was worried about the time commitment for completing the Bible in 90 Days.   However, I’m finding just the opposite to be true.  I’m finding I have more time and and getting far more accomplished!  God is cool like that!

Here are a few interesting tidbits that I picked up from the first week of reading.

- Sodom, Gomorrah, Babylon, Babel and Nineveh are all cities noted for their perversion and illicit lifestyle.   All of these cities came directly from the lineage of Ham. (Genesis 10:6-20) In case you don’t remember the story, he’s the son of Noah, the one who went went in on Noah when we was drunk and Noah cursed him. (Genesis 9:19-27)

- I never realized that Abraham remarried after the death of Sarah; and that he continued to father children!  (Genesis 25:1-2) I found it interesting though, that in preparation for his death gave all his goods to  Isaac only.  Neither Ishmael not those from his second marriage received an inheritance.

- I realize that customs are a lot different now than then, but I still totally don’t get the whole “go sleep with my servant” mentality of the ladies of the old testament.   Along those same lines I find it interesting that not once a man said “Honey, maybe it’s me and not you. Call in the pool boy and see if you can conceive with him.”   Of course I KNOW it was because they were trying to keep the lineage of the male going….but still…

I did glaze over a bit through the genealogies.   Then last night as I read about the building of the tabernacle I thought I’d slipped a cog because is all sounded too familiar…then I went back to Saturday’s reading and realized it was almost the exact same wording.  One giving instructions and one repeating the instructions that were followed….but geez, late in the evening when my eyes are already starting to blur, it’s just not fun to momentarily think I reread the wrong 12 chapters!   Imagine my relief when I figured it out!

Read the Bible in 90 Days Challenge

As everyone makes out their list of New Year’s Resolutions, here is one that I encourage everyone to do!   Read your Bible through in 90 days!  Sound like too much work?   All the more reason to do it!

However, you don’t have to do it alone!  Amy @ Mom’s Toolbox is hosting another Bible in 90 Days challenge, starting on Monday, January 3rd. The challenge will run through the end of March.  You can join in by signing up here.

Interested? You can find out more  about the Bible in 90 Days on Amy’s blog.